Questions about the coronavirus? Need help?Hartford HealthCare’s COVID-19 Clinical Command Center hotline, staffed by healthcare professionals, is now available to the community. To reach the 24-hour hotline, call860.972.8100 or (toll-free)833.621.0600.

Related: Please take a listen to our conversation with Virginia Mary Bieluch, MD -Chief, Infectious Diseases, The Hospital of Central Connecticut with the Hartford HealthCare Medical Group CLICK HERE

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. Person-to-person spread of the virus is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Much is still unknown about how the virus spreads. Take these everyday preventative actions to help stop the spread of germs.

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based sanitizer

Avoid shaking hands as a greeting

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

Avoid close contact with people who are sick

Stay home when you are sick

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash

“We understand people have specific questions but we want to stress that this call center is only intended for general information. Anyone looking for specific medical advice regarding symptoms they may be experiencing is strongly urged to seek medical treatment,” Gov. Lamont said.

The hotline is available 24 hours a day and multilingual assistance along with TDD/TTY access for those with hearing impairment is available.

Governor Ned Lamont has declared a public health emergency after two residents test positive for coronavirus.

The public health emergency allows Lamont to order travel bans and the closing of schools, as well as private businesses.

It also gives the governor and the attorney general the power to crack down on scammers and those who are charging extremely high prices for things like face masks and hand sanitizer.

"One thing that has become crystal clear to me why it's important we have this emergency declaration, it gives us the opportunity to get more testing capacity and it's faster for all the people in the State of Connecticut," Lamont said.

The state has received a second test kit, saying one kit can test up to 600 patients.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the state laboratory has tested 74 individuals, with three of them being positive.

Doctors are saying if you feel sick, or have a fever or cough, you might not need to rush to the hospital.

"If you have a fever and cough, and are in the south western part of the state, you should assume you have the coronavirus. You don't need a test to tell you that's what you have. You should assume that's the illness you have. Most people will get better at home, especially the younger you are, you should talk to your physician to give you advice on how to care for yourself with COVID-19 at home," said Dr. Matt Cartter, CT epidemiologist.

He said we shouldn't inundate the hospitals, and more than 80 percent of people will get better on their own, at home.

Tuesday 3.10.20 Update

New Haven St Patrick's Day Parade among many other events in CT cancelled

Governor Ned Lamont has announced the second presumptive case of coronavirus in Connecticut. This brings the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in Connecticut to two. Officials said the second patient is being cared for at Bridgeport Hospital, but the person is not a Bridgeport resident. CLICK HERE for the whole story.

Also in quarantine are seven Trinity College students. They're self-quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19 off campus and out of the area.

Hartford Healthcare has also instituted its own policies since the coronavirus outbreak. All work travel either out of the country or within the U.S. has been suspended. Personal travel is subject to review.

Folks can call the command center at 860-972-8100, or click here for more information.

Earlier this week, Lamont joined the U.S. surgeon general to tour the state’s lab in Rocky Hill, which was cleared to test for the virus.

Lamont has also urged all Connecticut residents who have recently traveled outside of the country, or are planning to do so, to follow guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For a coronavirus test to be done, a patient must exhibit flu like symptoms, have come in close contact with a coronavirus patient, or have a travel history to China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea.

While flu testing results are usually available in a hospital or clinic and can take less than hour or two, results for the coronavirus take a little longer, as they are sent to the lab.